A festival amidst the sunny and windy land.
Every year, when October (July in the Cham calendar) arrives in the sun-drenched, wind-swept land of Phan Rang (now in Khanh Hoa province), the indigenous Cham community joyfully prepares for one of their most important and ancient festivals: the Katê Festival. Beyond the meaning of a traditional festival, Katê is also an invitation for visitors from all over to come and immerse themselves in a thousand-year-old cultural and spiritual space that remains vibrant and intact.
The Cham community joyfully participates in one of the most important and ancient festivals: the Katê Festival.
Katê - More than just a festival
Katê is the biggest festival of the year for the Cham people who follow Brahmanism, celebrated to commemorate deities, meritorious kings, and ancestors. With its unique cultural, artistic, and historical value, the Katê Festival has been recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Every ritual, every costume, every piece of music here is a piece of history spanning thousands of years.
Attending Katê is not about watching a staged performance for tourists, but about living with the heritage. Every ritual, every costume, every melody here is a piece of thousands of years of history.
A unique experience: From the village to the tower
Unlike many other festivals, the Katê journey begins in Hữu Đức village, the only place where the Y Trang (traditional costume) welcoming ceremony from the youngest Raglai member takes place.
This is a unique cultural exchange moment, a solemn and heartwarming ritual, reflecting the close and enduring relationship between the Cham and Raglai peoples. Only after this ritual is completed, the following day, will Y Trang be solemnly carried up to the ancient Cham towers.
Carrying the ceremonial robes up to the Poklong Garai Tower.
This is also an opportunity for tourists to admire the Cham people in their most vibrant and beautiful traditional costumes, creating a wonderful chance to capture colorful souvenir photos. A small tip for tourists is to bring a hat and sun protection clothing, as the processions often take place under the typical sun of this region.
Y Trang was solemnly carried up to the ancient Cham towers.
The highlight of the festival then takes place at the sacred Cham tower complexes such as Po Klong Garai, Po Rome... Here, the mystical atmosphere blends the scent of incense, the haunting sound of the Saranai horn, and the stirring rhythm of the Ginang drums - awakening all the senses.
Here, a mystical atmosphere blends the scent of incense, the haunting sound of the Saranai horn, and the stirring rhythm of the Ginang drum.
From the tower to the village: Experiencing the depth of culture.
After the main ceremonies at the tower conclude, the festival spreads to the villages (Palai) – where visitors can fully experience the cultural depth of the local community.
The hospitable Cham people will invite visitors to share a ceremonial meal, enjoy traditional dishes, and share in the joy of the festival.
Prepare the offerings for the ceremony.
A valuable travel tip: arrive a few days before the festival. At that time, Cham families gather to make traditional cakes like bánh thuẫn (a type of Vietnamese cake), bánh gừng (gagar), bánh củ gừng (muti), etc. Tourists can join in and enjoy the warm, close-knit atmosphere of preparing for the Katê festival, similar to celebrating Tet (Vietnamese New Year).
Traditional Cham cakes.
Cham village dance.
The Katê festival always leaves a lasting impression on visitors.
The Katê festival always leaves a deep impression on visitors. Standing at the foot of the majestic ancient towers and feeling the enduring flow of Cham Pa culture that has survived for thousands of years is the core value of heritage tourism.
Source: https://vtv.vn/kate-mua-hoi-giua-mien-nang-gio-100251113215645744.htm
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